GetFit LT!

Let's Move!

2010-03-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Obama's fight against obesity is on! She's calling it "Let's Move!" and it's a complex approach to a complex problem. She's meeting with national, state, city, and local organizations and government to help tackle obesity in America. Check out the website!

http://www.letsmove.gov/

Minnesota Idea Open

2010-03-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Minnesota is trying to spur interest in fighting obesity offering $15,000 for ideas. Wouldn't it be great if California was doing these things?

http://www.mnideaopen.org/

Budokan Community Meeting Announcement

2010-02-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

Our friends at the Little Tokyo Service Center and the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) will host one final community planning session for the Budokan (formerly the Little Tokyo Rec Center) project from 9:00AM-12:00PM on Saturday, February 6th at the JACCC.

This meeting will be the 5th and final session to determine what features the community would like to see in the Budokan of Los Angeles. CRA will unveil its design for the project, to be submitted to the State of California for Prop 84 funding.

If you would like to take a look at CRA’s final design, please stop by! The meeting is open to the community and food will be provided for all in attendance.

Hope to see you there!

JACCC Conference Rooms 1&2 (2nd floor)
244 S. San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Community Strategies to Prevent Obesity

2009-12-03T11:37:00.001-08:00

Here's an interesting study from the CDC (July 2009) about community strategies to help prevent obesity in the US. Not exactly an easy-read but might be good to check out!

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5807a1.htm

El Monte Health & Wellness

2009-12-03T11:22:00.000-08:00

Check out what El Monte has been up to lately! They've opened their new walking trail named ARCEO Walk. It was a recipient of a PLACE grant from LA County.

http://healthyelmonte.org
www.lapublichealth.org/place/Previous%20webpages/grantees2.htm

Bell gets a fitness zone!

2009-12-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately!

Check out this LA Times article about an outdoor park with fitness equipment in Bell:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-workout-park2-2009dec02,0,7334384.story

GetFit Updates

2009-09-05T00:53:00.000-07:00

Next GetFit Meeting: Wednesday, September 16, 7:30pm @ LTSC

Planning and Cultural Preservation Committee (PCPC) Meeting: Wednesday, September 16, 2-4pm @ JACCC

Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) Meeting:
Tuesday, September 22, 12pm @ JANM

Come join us! :D

GetFit Featured on Little Tokyo UnBlogged

2009-08-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

GetFit was recently featured on Little Tokyo UnBlogged. Click here to read the blog post. Be sure to check out the video too!

Thanks to Nikkei Community Intern Michael Oguro of Little Tokyo UnBlogged for shooting and editing the video!

Let's Walk Little Tokyo

2009-07-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Over the next few months, we will be highlighting different opportunities for fitness and healthy eating in Little Tokyo! We hope that you will consider participating in these events/classes/groups, and that you will share this information with your friends.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in Let’s Walk Little Tokyo, led by Jayson Yamaguchi. Most of the participants are Japanese speaking, senior ladies, but anyone is invited. The purpose of these walks is to provide an opportunity for the participants to enjoy the fresh air and to see the world outside their apartments. They take a different route each day, but Jayson chooses the safest paths possible (minimal sidewalk damage, etc). On Wednesdays, they have a police officer escort to provide additional precautionary security. Besides providing social interaction and vitamin D exposure, these walks may also improve the participants’ bone health. There has been research that suggests that those who do weight-bearing exercise (such as walking) can see improved bone health (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2005/050112.htm). This is especially important for those who are at-risk for (or have) osteoporosis! I enjoyed meeting the ladies and spending time with them; even though there was a language barrier, it was wonderful to learn a little bit about their stories. It is so important for everyone, even seniors, to exercise and to stay active! While exercise is a plus, the main goal of this walk is to allow the participants to enjoy the outdoors. Everyone had a great time, and I hope to join them again someday!

Want to get involved with Let’s Walk Little Tokyo?
When? Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 3:30pm. The group returns at 4:30pm.
Where? Meet at the NW corner of 3rd Street and Central Avenue
Contact Jayson Yamaguchi for more information! yamanaola@yahoo.co.jp

First row from left, Ms. Nakashiba, Ms. Shinchi, Ms. Nishimoto.
Second row from left, Ms. Mizutani, Ms. Okano, Ms. Mochizuki.

Koreisha Chushoku-kai Reception Honoring Emi Yamaki

2009-06-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, June 25th, GetFit attended the Koreisha Chushoku-kai reception (also know as Little Tokyo Nutrition Services) honoring Emi Yamaki, who was instrumental in the founding of the organization in 1976. She recently stepped down as director after 33 amazing years of service!

The reception on the JACCC plaza featured noted guest speakers Councilwoman Jan Perry, Junici Ihara, Consul General of Japan, and Emi Yamaki herself.

Little Tokyo Nutrition Services has an office located on the fourth floor in the JACCC and is a non-profit organization that has been serving culturally competent, healthy meals to seniors living in Little Tokyo for the past 35 years. An estimated 245 meals are served daily and since it's reception, the program has assisted more than one million seniors.

The goal is to provide the support and assistance that allows our seniors to remain independent and able to reside in units associated with the program. This organization, specifically catered to the senior residents of LT reminds me a lot of the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOW) which also provides hot and healthy meals to homebound seniors all over the nation. MOW aims to address the pressing (and largely unknown) issue on food insecurity and hunger that affects many seniors who live independently or with income limitations.

Although there are so many causes out there to support, the elderly population in the US really needs our support and attention!

For more information on Meals on Wheels and how you can help, check out their website at http://www.mowaa.org/.

If you would like to donate to Koreisha Chushoku-kai, please make your checks payable to "Little Tokyo Senior Nutrition Services" and mail them to 244 S. San Pedro Street #408, LA, CA 90012.

List of Events!

2009-06-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

*Little Tokyo Community Council Meeting - June 23rd @ 11:45am.

-GetFit will be presenting our visions for a healthier Little Tokyo as well as discussing our plans to create and implement an urban walking trail in the community!

*Koreisha Chushoku Kai Reception Honoring Director Emi Yamaki - June 25th from 5:30-7:30 in the JACCC Plaza

-Koreisha Chushoku Kai has been providing nutritious and healthy hot meals for our seniors for over 35 years. Please consider being a co-sponsor to honor her years of service!

-Sponsorships:
Platinum Sponsor: $1,500
Gold Sponsor: $1,000
Silver Sponsor: $500
Friends: $100

Please make checks payable to: Little Tokyo Senior Nutrition Services
(Non-profit organization Tax ID: 96-0794434).
244 S. San Pedro Street, #408, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 (213)680-9173

*Community Overlay/Community Plan Meeting - June 30th from 5:30-7:30 at Centenary Methodist Church

- Join us at this meeting to discuss ideas on how we can create a healthier community! All suggestions welcome.

*GetFit General Meeting - July 6th, 7:30pm at LTSC

-Interested in what our group's all about? Join us to help make a difference in the community! All is welcome..snacks provided!

At Children's Day!

2009-05-21T00:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who visited our booth at Children's Day! We hope you are enjoying your exercise bands! We invite you to follow our blog and receive updates to see how we are building a healthy and active Little Tokyo community.

Enjoy our Children's Day photos below.

GetFit at Childrens Day!

2009-05-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

GetFit will be at Children’s Festival this Saturday, May 16 from 10am-4pm giving out free exercise bands. Children's Day will take place on the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles.

Misako Tsuchiya, a certified Alexander Technique instructor, will be giving “All healthy & Genki Workshop” at the GetFit booth. Misako teaches Tai Chi and Quigong in Little Tokyo, Gardena and Long Beach. She also is available for private lessons. For more information contact Misako at 323-573-1472.

See you there!

San Tai San & Chibi K Fun Run

2009-05-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

San Tai San 2009 will take place this Saturday, May 16th on San Pedro Street in front of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles). Part of Little Tokyo's annual Children's Day festivities, San Tai San is an exciting 3-on-3 tournament for kids in grades 3-7.

San Tai San was developed as a way to show the City of LA that hundreds are willing to come back to Little Tokyo for sports...something the Budokan of Los Angeles would be able to on a daily basis. With the passing of the MOU to begin development of the BoLA, this year's tournament will again showcase the spirit and love of sports in the Japanese American Community!

The Chibi-K Fun Run will take place earlier in the day. Come out to celebrate Children's Day, the BoLA, and sports under the sun!

For more details about San Tai San and the BoLA, check out our website:
www.budokanoflosangeles.org

LT Rec Center is the Budokan!

2009-04-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

New renderings have been posted at http://www.budokanofla.org/.

We're VERY excited about this development in Little Tokyo. We'll be watching and updating as we find out more about this project.

Welcome to a fitter and healther Little Tokyo!

2009-04-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting! We will be posting our progress and updates as we work towards building a healthier community in our beloved Little Tokyo.